What to do with this foot?

[MissChick@dee]

Kris I have been following your post from when you first started.
Your husbands Aunt & Uncle who are getting older know in their heart of hearts they’ve let things go on the farm. Pride and shame can be ugly at times. You’ve jumped in with both feet and didn’t look back. Just loved it when you said they couldn’t understand “why” you’d ever give chickens oyster shell.
One day there’ll be nothing left to say ~ other than ~dang that little retail girl our nephew married is really something!
I don’t know these people but I can imagine...pride might prevent them from a proper acknowledgement of all the work you do around the farm (and not just their chickens). But somehow I think that is of little consequences to you. It would still be nice though.
In the end I hope you and your husband end up with the farm. It’s an extremely back breaking way of life that so many just give up on.
It would be a great legacy. And you truly would of earned every bit of it.

 

[Kris5902]

Thank you all again for your support and knowledge! We do use Copper Sulfate externally on the sheep, for foot problems in our damp environment. Never heard of using it internally though.

I really think the coop is a lost cause, and am working towards moving the chickens out of it... there are just too many places for mites and live to hide. It’s rough cut lumber from the original sawmill and there are so many nooks and crannies and gals!

@MissChick@dee you hit a lot of the trouble right on the head in talking about pride. It’s really hard for his family to let go of the responsibility and work of running the farm. Our gradual taking over of it is a very emotionally charged situation. And it’s not that they don’t want to see it in our hands, it’s just challenging for them with all the emotional and financial investment in a multi generational family Farm.

My Husbands Aunt (farm manager) is a spinster, his other aunt has one daughter with a government job and minimal interest in farm work. His cousin (deceased uncles heir) has a disabled son, no interest in farming and a good union career. His brother... we won’t go into that, but if we don’t have kids (7 years trying) I’m hoping my niece will want to farm.

I’m happy to have been basically given charge of the cattle, I still need some help, but I chose our culls (it’s been too long) and our replacements (still deciding we didn’t get a lot of heifer calves this year).

I’m going to keep working on the chickens... really the big problem I see is that they aren’t really a “farm” animal, they don’t provide an income for the farm, just eggs, so they sort of slip through the cracks in being cared for. I will change that because I believe all animals should have the best lives possible, even the ones we plan on eating.

I’m hoping she’s going to be all grumpy again today when I soak her feet. It’s annoying that she’s starting to fight getting into the sling and tub and putting her feet through the holes, but I’m glad she’s getting the energy to be a bit feisty again! “No! I won’t sit down, now hold the treats up for me again so I don’t have to reach down for them... good human!”

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you all again for your support and knowledge! We do use Copper Sulfate externally on the sheep, for foot problems in our damp environment. Never heard of using it internally though.

I really think the coop is a lost cause, and am working towards moving the chickens out of it... there are just too many places for mites and live to hide. It’s rough cut lumber from the original sawmill and there are so many nooks and crannies and gals!

@MissChick@dee you hit a lot of the trouble right on the head in talking about pride. It’s really hard for his family to let go of the responsibility and work of running the farm. Our gradual taking over of it is a very emotionally charged situation. And it’s not that they don’t want to see it in our hands, it’s just challenging for them with all the emotional and financial investment in a multi generational family Farm.

My Husbands Aunt (farm manager) is a spinster, his other aunt has one daughter with a government job and minimal interest in farm work. His cousin (deceased uncles heir) has a disabled son, no interest in farming and a good union career. His brother... we won’t go into that, but if we don’t have kids (7 years trying) I’m hoping my niece will want to farm.

I’m happy to have been basically given charge of the cattle, I still need some help, but I chose our culls (it’s been too long) and our replacements (still deciding we didn’t get a lot of heifer calves this year).

I’m going to keep working on the chickens... really the big problem I see is that they aren’t really a “farm” animal, they don’t provide an income for the farm, just eggs, so they sort of slip through the cracks in being cared for. I will change that because I believe all animals should have the best lives possible, even the ones we plan on eating.

I’m hoping she’s going to be all grumpy again today when I soak her feet. It’s annoying that she’s starting to fight getting into the sling and tub and putting her feet through the holes, but I’m glad she’s getting the energy to be a bit feisty again! “No! I won’t sit down, now hold the treats up for me again so I don’t have to reach down for them... good human!”

Maybe a “gentle” reminder to them that no one else wants the farm, they are lucky that you do.
I hope eventually they embrace what you are trying to do, and let you manage your way. Kudos to you for sticking with it.

 

[Kris5902]

Good news!!! She stood on BOTH feet today for a little while after our soak!

Here is pre soaking:

The black area is mostly blu kote... it’s getting better! Here’s post Soaking:

I am concerned about maybe bumblefoot... I will post more pics here

 

[Eggcessive]

My goodness, what an improvement to those feet! You are doing a great job.

 

[aart]

I am concerned about maybe bumblefoot.

Am betting it's just mite crust and/or 'dead' and/or deformed scales.

I so wish there were more info about leg scales.....what the 'bed' is like, how often they shed...just haven't seen much, and I've done some searching in the past when dealing with SLM.

 

[casportpony]

Wow, looks so much better!

 

[Kris5902]

Here is where I’m worried about bumblefoot... this is the foot she is not putting down

See where the tiny scales are in the center of the foot... it’s a little squishy, maybe pus filled? The two hard lumps below came off easily today, but no seepage of anything.

The big lump on the left toe is solid and still attached to live tissue, I think it’s another bad dead scale.

These photos were pre soaking... I vaselined it up again. As soon as I get my baby Sapphires moved out of the garage I’m going to move her in where it’s warmer! Building as fast as I can...

 

[MissChick@dee]

Looks better & better everyday. Good job!

 

[coach723]

I don't see anything at this point that screams bumblefoot. I would just keep doing what you are doing and continue to reassess as she heals. There are probably sore/raw areas that may just heal up with time and care. She looks SO much better already! Awesome job!